Also On FireSale – Unlocked Pre2 for $50 on HP.com
HP is not only dumping the webOS TouchPad with massive price reductions, but our friend the Pre2 is also on fire sale. An unlocked (GSM) Pre2 smart phone is going for $50 at hp.com.
Why would anybody consider the Pre2 at this moment in time? Well, to be frank, we're probably not going to see the Pre3. I highly doubt there is even any Pre3 product in the pipeline (I could be wrong!). Plus, the Pre2 it is an awesome device! I would say that the Pre2 is everything that our original Pre phone was meant to be -- it's speedy, has voice dial, webOS2.x, solid construction.
The unlocked Pre2 will hook up with either AT&T or T-Mobile's networks.
Your best deal? Grab a Pre2 and use it with an unlimited T-Mobile Prepaid service. For $50/month, you get unlimited everything and you are not tied down to a 2-year contract. Check this link for tips on getting your Pre2 setup with T-Mobile.
[Source: HP]
Welcome New webOS Users! A Quick Introduction
In a stunning piece of irony, HP's move to kill off its webOS devices is actually bringing tens of thousands of new webOS users into the flock. If you are one of the new webOS TouchPad users, welcome!
Your new TouchPad is a little bulky and it loves fingerprints, but the engine that runs this baby is the absolute best mobile operating system on the planet. Yes, webOS is better than the iPad's iOS and Google's Android platforms.
We think you will quickly learn to love a few things about your new Touchpad:
- The ease of multitasking. webOS rules in this area. Sure, the others can multitask, but webOS does it so beautifully. You will love being able to quickly flip between open cards.
- Synergy. Got Gmail, Facebook, Yahoo, a business Exchange server or LinkedIn accounts? Got them all? webOS will weave them all together for you. All of your calendars in one place. All of your contacts synergized together in one place. It's a beautiful thing!
- Apps. Ok, we are a little lacking in the quantity of apps compared with the iPad and Android devices. And, to be honest, there are some glaring holes (i.e. Office document editing and remote desktop to name a few). But looking through the app catalog will yield some wonderful programs for your business productivity and entertainment. webOS has THE best Facebook app on the market. And if you manage a WordPress blog, webOS is the ONLY place for the official WordPress app. A few of the very first apps I downloaded were, Glimpse, USA Today, Angry Birds and RadioTime.
- Box.net. Heck, the price you just paid for your TouchPad is well worth the lifetime 50 Gig Box.net membership alone! Use it and feel great about this wonderful freebie!
Honestly, we're not sure about the future of webOS. Some say HP just killed it off. Others see HP's move as a positive step to attract a hardware suitor. Let's just say that the state of webOS is....uh, fuzzy. But we choose to live in the today. And today, thousands of new folks like yourself are holding a shiny new Touchpad that you picked at a breathtaking price. And really, that's a great thing.
Congratulations - and welcome to the webOS family!
Early Adopters Reward – $50 App Credit from HP
Cringing at that $499 Touchpad purchase now that your friends are picking it up for $299 this weekend at Staples? HP has a little something to ease the your webOS pain.
HP announced yesterday on thier Palm Blog that early adopters of the Touchpad (purchased between July 1 and August 4) can expect a $50 credit for the webOS App Catalog. Watch your inbox for details sometime next week. This is on top of the $50 rebate that users who went for the 32 gig model will receive.
The credits are good through December 31, 2011. Thanks HP -- this is a nice touch! Plus, it is a win-win for the webOS eco-system. Users get to test out apps that maybe they would never have purchased. And webOS developers have a little more incentive to release some new apps to the marketplace to grab up some of this free app-credit cash.
Now, all we need are some great apps to spend our money on! Here's hoping for some document editing, remote login and a decent weather app. Oh, and maybe a Bible app with modern translations that can be used offline. We'd gladly pay for those apps -- free credits or not.
No Compelling Reason to Keep My TouchPad. HP Has Failed webOS. It’s Probably Over.
This is a tough post to write.
After years of being a fan of Palm (Palm Pilot, Treo600, Treo650, Pre-Minus, Pre-Plus, Pre2), and months of buying into the "coming months" dream, I'm sadly shedding my "fanboy" skin.
It is clear that HP can not deliver a timely, quality webOS product that can survive in the marketplace.
Don't get me wrong, webOS is THE BEST mobile operating system. The homebrew community is awesome. But it is clear to me now that HP cannot deliver.
I purchase a 16 Gig HP Touchpad last week. Tonight, I will be sending it back. Bottom line – there is NO compelling reason to keep it. In fact, there is NOTHING that the TouchPad can do that my Pre2 smartphone can already do. Actually, to be brutally honest, my Pre2 does much more.
Now, I'm not a guy who is really complaining about the hardware. I don't have a problem with the size or weight of the tablet, and I don't care that it only has 1 camera (I'm not going to be taking pictures with it). That never has been an issue for me (although it is a legitimate concern for others).
What has put me over the edge are the things that the device cannot do. Here are just a few of my frustrations:
- I can't read books on the TP
- NetFlix is not supported
- There is no remote desktop application, like LogMeIn or Go2MyPC (or even Splashtop)
- I can't edit Word and Excel documents
- I can't view PowerPoint presentations
- Frequently, I have to exit and restart the email app in order for message bodies to display
- There are no webOS 3 streaming music apps. The Slacker Radio app has even been removed from my TouchPad.
- The Touchpad mysteriously reboots a couple times each day.
- Fingerprints. I didn't want to be that guy who complained about the finger prints. But good grief, it's disgusting!
- Missing Accessories. I can't even spend my hard-earned money to purchase a carrying case or charging dock for the TouchPad. For all the talk of HP's magical retail delivery strength, they can't even supply a protective case (add-on sale!) to retailers for their flagship device.
- Sluggishness. I've overlooked this issue because of a promise from HP that an upcoming update will fix it. But, honestly, I don't believe HP anymore.
Yes, I know that most of these issues are simply "apps" that haven't been developed yet. But still…why should we set our expectations so low? Why should we display such low self-esteem as to accept a $500 product that can't even display an eBook at launch?! I will no longer buy a webOS product with the knowledge that I have to wait for it to be minimally functional. That is unacceptable behavior for webOS lovers.
And then there are the features that are cool, but not really useful to me.
- Beats Audio system sounded like it was going to be really cool. But, honestly, can anybody really tell the difference? Unfortunately, I've found the volume level to be less than the competitors.
- Touch-To-Share will be a cool feature. But, then again, in all honesty, I can't really see myself being so excited about a webpage that I am viewing on my tablet that I need to have it transferred immediately to my phone.
- Receiving Texts and Phone calls. This is actually a cool feature, and I've used it. But I can live without.
After a week of spending time with the TouchPad (that sounds awkward!), I'm left asking myself these questions:
- What has HP been doing since February? We were reminded (time and time again) that they had the resources, money, and manpower to make webOS succeed. Well…what exactly have they been doing? Do you mean to tell me that, in six months, HP could not convince NetFlix, Amazon, LogMeIn, B&N, QuickOffice, Slacker, Pandora – heck even the talented developer who gave us pReader – to develop simple apps for the thing?
- Did anybody at HP actually USE the device during development? Was anybody asking questions like, "why is this a fingerprint magnet?", or "why does this reboot twice each day?"
- What happened to HP's retail strength? We've been told all along about how HP would rule retail. Today, at Best Buys across the country, there are empty TouchPad display cases, sluggish display devices, unpowered display devices, and an uninformed sales force.
So, what's next for me? I'm sending the TouchPad back. That's regrettable because I really, really wanted webOS to shine!
I do love my webOS Pre2 device, but I no longer have any faith that HP can keep the OS alive. It will not gain any traction or marketshare. I'm convinced of this now.
And, I would to sell this domain (webOSCenter.com). If you are interested, please send me an offer at matt@penncomm.com.
Office WordPress App Released First on webOS & TouchPad!
How about an app that is available FIRST for webOS? Well, WordPress has released an administrative app designed for blog owners. They say it is designed to enable you to switch between creating, editing, and managing your blog content.
We've followed some blogs today that are whining that WordPress chose to release this new, beautiful (and useful) app for webOS. We're sure that WordPress saw a great opportunity to utilize the open architecture of webOS to release a compelling product just in time for today TouchPad launch.
It's just another great way to demonstrate that the TouchPad is to be USED, and not just played with. Great job WordPress!
As an aside, there is another great WordPress admin app already on the market called Poster. It is a wonderful tool for managing multiple WordPress blogs using your Palm Pre device. Check it out also!
[Source: WordPress]
GrooveShark App Now Only on WebOS? Wait…What?
Now that's not something you hear everyday -- A popular, high-profile app that is only available on the webOS platform. Well, that's now the case with GrooveShark, who has now been kicked off both iOS and the Android marketplace. WebOS is the lone holdout for this innovative, perhaps not-quite-legal, music-sharing application.
GrooveShark, which just got an slick HTML5 makeover on their website, is popular for allowing users to find, and instantly play, virtually any recorded song. Essentially, it is a cloud-based music sharing service that features 6 million tunes. Add a mobile device subscription for a few bucks monthly, and you have a virtually any song, artist or album you could possibly want to hear, right in the palm of your hand! And that's where the "grey" area exists, legally speaking. Music labels have pressured Google and Apple to pull GrooveShark from their app stores.
Google simply said of their decision, "We remove apps from Android Market that violate our policies."
Of course, Google also is dodging it's own legal troubles – congress is investigating their allowance of alleged software pirates to utilize google advertising. And, they are paving the way for a new Google Music service. But surely, those are totally unrelated stories!
So, for now, GrooveShark rocks on with webOS devices. Perhaps it is because webOS is too small a fish to go after for now? Regardless, at least we can brag about something, right?
[Source: CNet]
So…Where is the Veer?
Coming Out to Play Soon? HP Veer
Spring has arrived here in the Midwest. Rising temperatures...growing grass...allergies! And there is one other thing that us webOS lovers were looking forward to next month -- the tiny WebOS hotrod, HP Veer.
But even as we are within a few weeks of May, HP has been strangely silent on the Veer. Lots of questions are on our minds:
- What carrier(s) will this arrive on?
- How much?
- What is the specific launch date?
- What is the target audience? How will HP differentiate this product from iPhone and Android?
Come to think of it, what about the Pre3? Seems like all HP has been talking about, since the February event, is webOS this and webOS that. But, what about some hardware, HP?
Not sure what to think of this lack of communications surrounding the new smartphones. Worst case scenerio -- HP doesn't have any carriers lined up yet. Best case -- they are putting the final touches on an all-out marketing assualt.
What do you think? Is this a troubling sign? Or is HP just holding their cards close?
HP Reaches Out to Grapple Mobile to Develop TouchPad Apps
Grapple Mobile is a top-dog mobile application developer. Today, they announced a "development agreement" with HP to help their clients develop apps for the webOS Touchpad device.
The press release is full of vague corporate-speak, but it's a good sign that HP is reaching out to top-notch developers for help in creating apps for our beloved webOS. Now, I'm reading between the lines here, but it sounds like this agreement is basically saying that Grapple will help their existing clients port their existing applications over to webOS. Nothing earth-shaking here, but at least a step in the right direction.
We'll soon see how and if this agreement pays off!
[Source: PR Newswire]
webOS Slate Sneaks Out Today — HP Says “You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet”
Our friends at Engadget.com snagged a great scoop today with the release of what could very well be a representation of the upcoming HP/Palm/webOS tablet device. And she' s a beauty!
HP Palm webOS Tablet
HP promptly send word out saying "Think you saw the latest on Engadget? Think again!"
Oh, all this "thinking" is tiresome!
Kudos for HP for what looks to be a solid and creative marketing campaign. Let's hope the hype leads to a very successful launch of new and affordable webOS devices on February 9, 2011.
We love the fact that the Palm branding is on the device. But we especially love that, after all these months in the desert, there is finally some signs of progress for our beloved webOS.
[ Source: Engadget ]
Are webOS/Palm Specs Really Going to Matter on Feb 9?
On Feb. 9 we are going to see a whole new lineup of webOS devices -- or at least a roadmap of devices to come. As I read between the lines of their "Think Big, Think Small, Think Beyond (Think too much!) slogan for this event, I envision the introduction of various new devices targetted to specific groups of people -- students, businessmen, soccer moms, and techies.
Gone are the days of Palm being a business productivity tool. The next generation devices will delve into all aspects of life -- social, productivity, communications, entertainment, and media consumption.
I know that I'm in the vast minority when I say that I LOVED the "spooky girl" ad campaign, because that was exactly the message -- that the Palm Pre was a central hub for your life. But that's a debate for another time!
My point today is that we seem to focus on specs so much -- processor speed, camera resolution, onboard memory, 3G or 4G, storage, data speed, video resolution, GPS, Flash compatible...blah, blah, blah.
Don't get my wrong. Specs are important. On February 9, HP/Palm had better have devices with specs that knock the competition back -- if only to capture media attention and feed rabid Palm loyalists.
For MONTHS, people have been SPECulating about the SPECS that the new webOS devices will have. But at the end of the day, it's not really the specs that matter, is it? It really comes down to a simple question.
Will webOS devices create a need that people need to fill?
A few years ago, the Palm Treo did just that. The concept of merging my contacts, calendar, email and tasks with a phone brought me to plop the cash down to buy one (and another, and another).
In a marketplace of waaay too many smartphone and tablet competitors, how will HP/Palm create a device that people will need?
Well, that's just it. The device isn't really going to matter that much. In fact, Palm can not and should not compete head to head with device specs. That is a never-ending, never (fully) winning battle. And really, in the next few years, specs really won't be enough to differentiate mobile devices.
There must be something more.
HP, with the webOS environment might just be able to pull this off.
Perhaps a family of devices that can sync and actually work together seamlessly. And priced affordably so that a real, working family could actually bring a few devices into the home, school and workplace. A tablet for the daughter in high school; a small but sophisticated smartphone for mom; a slab (gamer's) phone for the junior high son; and a business-class performance device for the road warrior dad. And maybe a netbook that sits at home to power the media center.
All separate and unique, but also all interconnected through the power of webOS and cloud-based syncing.
Now THAT would be a comeback for Palm!